‘Dirty Dancing’ Joins Facebook to Release Game

A new Facebook game based on the iconic 1987 movie "Dirty Dancing" has been released (Lionsgate Home Entertainment).

Baby’s out of the corner and on Facebook.

The chance to “have the time of your life” with Johnny and Baby is a click away, thanks to a new “Dirty Dancing” game now available on Facebook.

The new “Dancing” game, released by Lionsgate and the social media giant, is based on the iconic 1987 movie, offering fans the opportunity to play as managers — and caretakers — on Kellerman’s resort. Players can build the resort, organize activities, choreograph dance routines, spread romance to guests through pink “romance waves” — all to tunes of the legendary soundtrack.

Social media has generally proved kind to the “Dirty Dancing” franchise. More than 200,000 fans have registered to play the game, designed by Toronto-based Social Game Universe, since its release Tuesday, and a Facebook fan page for the movie about the forbidden romance between bad boy dance instructor Johnny Castle and naive Baby counts 10.9 million fans. A September 2010 post made on the first anniversary of actor Patrick Swayze’s death broke the Guinness World Record for the number of social media responses in a 24 hour period — 10,260 comments commemorated the actor, according to Guinness World Records.

“Dirty Dancing is that rare movie that resonates with each new generation and continues to expand upon what is already an extremely loyal and active group of people who can’t get enough of this coming of age story,” said Anne Parducci, Lionsgate’s executive vice president in a statement.

“We wanted to create a game that would not only capture the essence and aesthetic of the “Dirty Dancing” film but also offer Facebook gamers an opportunity to experience it in a whole new way,” said Nathon Gunn, CEO of Social Game Universe. “By enabling players to partner with their Facebook friends to generate love and romance at Kellerman’s, they can add their own unique spin to the game, creating a different social experience for each player.”

“Dirty Dancing” cost $6 million to produce and eventually grossed $213 million worldwide. It’s been credited with launching Patrick Swayze’s career, and making “Baby” co-star Jennifer Greya pop culture icon. She took home the ballroom trophy (despite a ruptured disc) in a victorious stint on the ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” in 2010.

The launch of the “Dirty Dancing” game follows Lionsgate’s recent controversial announcement that it was remaking the cult classic. But relax. The remake will be directed by Kenny Ortega, who choreographed the original version.